Garden waste subscription terms and conditions
Before you subscribe to have your garden waste collected you must accept the terms and conditions below.
Garden waste collection service
From 1 April 2024 it costs £60 per green bin for a year’s subscription. This is reduced to £30 per green bin if you receive certain benefits (see below).
By submitting your application you agree to pay South Gloucestershire Council to collect your garden waste.
The service is available to all households in South Gloucestershire.
We empty green bins once a fortnight (except when circumstances prevent us from doing so, such as during severe weather).
If we miss your garden waste collection let us know within 5 working days and we will return as soon as possible.
If you need a new green bin let us know when you subscribe.
If your bin is lost, stolen or damaged you can request a replacement. We will replace or repair them at our discretion, as long as you are subscribed.
New bins will be delivered within 10 working days.
All green bins remain the property of the council.
Your personal information
Read our privacy notice for the garden waste service.
Benefits that give you a discount
You are entitled to a 50% discount on each green bin in your subscription if you receive any of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
- Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit and you are not working
Cancellation and refunds
We do not offer refunds for the remaining portion of your annual subscription if you no longer wish to receive the service or move out of South Gloucestershire.
If you move home within South Gloucestershire you can transfer your subscription to your new address.
To cancel the service contact us online, phone or visit a One Stop Shop.
Following the death of a subscriber, once informed we will refund the remaining portion of the annual subscription.
We will not give a refund or compensation for missed bin collections.
Transferring the service to a new address
If you are moving house you can transfer your subscription to your new address within South Gloucestershire at no additional cost. Contact us online, phone or visit a One Stop Shop when you have moved.
The subscription will be transferred from your old address within 10 working days.
We do not offer refunds if you move out of the area or no longer use the service in your new home.
Renewal
You can opt for your subscription to automatically renew each year.
If you do not opt for auto renewal
Renewing your subscription each year is your responsibility. we will send you a renewal reminder a month before your subscription expires. However, as we cannot guarantee that you will receive the reminder, you should make a note of the date so you know when to renew.
To ensure continuation of service you should renew and pay the £60 annual fee at least: 10 working days for debit/credit card payments and 15 working days for cheque payments, before the end of the current subscription.
We cannot offer any compensation if you do not renew the subscription before the expiry date. Failure to pay the full annual charge for the service will automatically result in the service ending without notice.
Collection arrangements
Once you have subscribed to the garden waste service it may take up to 5 working days to register your details with our collection crews.
Garden waste must be placed in approved green bins.
Green bins will be emptied once a fortnight on a specified day. We reserve the right to alter the collection day and we will publish any changes as soon as we can. Christmas and New Year collections will vary due to bank holidays and we will tell you the revised dates well in advance. Other bank holidays are worked as normal days.
Your bin must be presented at your usual collection point by 7am on your collection day.
Mark your green bin with the number or name of your property to help the collection crew identify your bin.
After collection, your green bin will be returned to the collection point. It is your responsibility to ensure that it’s taken back to the normal storage position on your property.
If you are unable to put your bins or boxes out for collection due to health or mobility reasons, we can provide help by arranging an assisted collection for you. If this service is already in place for your black bin, it will automatically be arranged for your garden waste bin.
Acceptable waste, overweight and contaminated bins
Only household garden waste may be placed in the green bin. This may include grass cuttings, leaves, weeds, hedge trimmings, plant prunings, twigs and small branches (no larger than the width of your wrist), old or used compost, pet bedding – rabbit and rodent only.
The bin lifts on our vehicles have a weight limit and we cannot empty your bin if it is too heavy. If this occurs, our crews will leave information on your bin to let you know.
Do not use the green bin for:
- Japanese knotweed or garden waste with signs of ash dieback disease
- large logs, tree stumps or treated wood from sheds, fences etc
- cardboard or paper – use your weekly recycling collection
- food including fruit and vegetable peelings, leftovers, egg shells, windfall fruit and vegetables from the garden, tea bags etc. – use your weekly food recycling collection or compost them at home
- pet waste (other than rodent or rabbit bedding), including bird/poultry, dog or cat waste or cat litter
- soil – you can take a limited amount to the Sort It recycling centres free of charge
- rubble or hardcore – you can take a limited amount to the Sort It recycling centres free of charge
- waste produced by a business or any commercial activity
Important information
Don’t put your garden waste into sacks or bags inside the green bin. No extra garden waste will be collected unless it is in the authorised garden waste sacks.
Bins that are overflowing or overweight will not be emptied. If the bin is too full or overweight it is your responsibility to remove items before the next collection.
The bin lid must be closed when presented for collection.
Bins that do not meet with the requirements above will not be emptied.
Contaminated bins
If the bin is contaminated (with non–compostable material such as plastic bags, food waste or cardboard) it is your responsibility to remove these item(s) before the next collection. We will not return to collect bins that have been incorrectly presented and it is your responsibility to correct any problems before your next collection.
If we cannot empty your bin because the material is jammed in, the bin will not be emptied. It is your responsibility to ensure the material is freed before the next collection.
Bin misuse
We cannot accept liability for bins used for any purpose other than for the collection of garden waste.
Customers use the green bins at their own risk.
We reserve the right to cancel your garden waste collection due to any misuse of the service or the bins. You will be contacted in advance to inform you and no refund will be given in these circumstances.
Variation of terms
We reserve the right to vary these terms and conditions and to amend the annual cost of the service.
Statutory rights and right to cancel
These terms and conditions do not affect your statutory rights.
Unforeseen circumstances
We shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform any of our obligations if the delay or failure results from events or circumstances outside our reasonable control, including but not limited to events outside human control or activity, strikes, lock-outs, accidents, war, fire, extreme weather conditions or breakdown of plant or machinery.